By Lisa Esile, MS Last Updated:
It’s that time of year when we take a moment to thank our mothers for everything they’ve done for us. (Thank you, Mom!) This is a day when Mom gets to put her feet up and be spoiled—and what better way to spoil her than with a big, beautiful plant-based brunch? To help, we’ve put together some of our favorite special vegan brunch recipes, including grain bowls, flatbreads, coffee cake, muffins, and more, that are sure to make this a Mother’s Day to remember.
Looking for gift-worthy baked goods to present to Mom, then check out these delectable Edible Goodies to Gift.
Flour-free and deliciously comforting, these memorable savory potato waffles will fill Mom up and have her asking for seconds. They’re easy to make, too: Toss steamed potatoes with a smoky tahini sauce; then press them in a waffle maker. At the same time the waffles are cooking, whip up a batch of creamed spinach to serve over the top. Done and delicious. Shares one commenter, “Thank you for a stellar recipe. Creamy and crispy textures are a treat.”
View Recipe
Treat Mom to the sweet-smelling aroma and tender crumb of these fruity strawberry muffins. Naturally sweetened with dates and banana, and with chunks of strawberry and rhubarb in every mouthful, these juicy, slightly tart muffins are sure to be a hit.
View Recipe
These sensational waffles get their airy texture from a three-flour blend consisting of masa harina, cornmeal, and almond flour. Top with seasoned black beans, veggies, salsa, guacamole, and jalapeño chile (optional) for a heavenly start to the day. A reviewer notes, “These tamale waffles are my favorite FOK waffles. They are consistently crunchy, light, and have a wonderful taste.”
View Recipe
This oil-free vegan take on a popular Czech dessert will leave Mom feeling spoiled but not sluggish. Made with brown rice flour and whole wheat flour, and with sparkling water for extra lightness, the dreamily thin crepes melt in your mouth. Fill with fruit or fruit compote and serve with a drizzle of maple or date syrup. If Mom loves chocolate, make her day by adding vegan dark chocolate shavings or date-sweetened chocolate sauce.
View Recipe
Fruit-topped, freshly baked flatbread, now that’s a winning start to the day. Note: This whole wheat dough is incredibly quick to make and is out of the oven in 30 minutes.
View Recipe
Moist, delicious, and easy to throw together, these marvelous muffins are naturally sweetened, and can be gluten-free if you use certified gluten-free oat flour. Pro tip: Don’t have oat flour? Make your own by blending rolled oats in a food processor: 1¼ cups of oats yields 1 cup of flour.
View Recipe
In these vibrant, fresh-tasting toasts, pink-hued, quick-pickled cauliflower and red onion sit atop a gorgeous lemon-infused green pea-edamame mash. They’ll have Mom springing out of bed in no time!
View Recipe
Level up your oatmeal with a tender berry-topped breakfast casserole that’s fragrant with the warming flavors of vanilla and cinnamon. Plump raisins add juiciness to every mouthful, almonds add a nutty crunch, and a drizzle of maple syrup ups the sweetness without overdoing it. Added bonus: You can prep this the night before so that in the morning, while executing other mom-pampering activities, you can simply throw it in the oven to bake for 40 minutes. A fan writes, “I have made this several times—it’s like having dessert for breakfast. Flavourful and nutritious!”
View Recipe
These crispy vegan French toast cups, filled with a sweet, gooey banana-orange filling, are a delight to the taste buds. Garnish with your choice of chopped toasted pecans, fresh berries, fresh mint, and/or ground cinnamon.
View Recipe
If hearty and healthy with bold Southwest flavor sounds like your special lady, she’ll love these smoky black bean polenta cakes served with fresh salsa. Shares a fan, “Absolutely delicious! I substituted green onions for the cilantro in the polenta, and it worked out really well!” Tip: To save time, prepare the polenta the day before so that come the big day, all you have to do is slice the polenta and heat in a non-stick skillet until lightly browned.
View Recipe
These sweet and moist mini banana bread loaves are adorable served with a cup of tea, or wrapped in brown paper as a gift. Walnuts (or any nuts that you’d prefer) add a nutty crunch, while generous amounts of cinnamon give them a yummy, low-key spice flavor, and dates add caramel-like sweetness.
View Recipe
Buckwheat flour, rolled oats, vegan chocolate chips, and coconut flakes combine to make these beloved pancakes. One reviewer writes, “Best pancakes I’ve ever had. And I’ve made a lot of pancakes.”
View Recipe
Load up this vegan omelette with mushrooms, green onion, or any of Mom’s favorite veggies, and top with your choice of salsa or hot sauce. “My family and I all LOVE this recipe! We eat it often, and not just for breakfast,” shares one reviewer.
View Recipe
Fresh and frozen fruit combines with spinach, nuts, and other goodies to create a bounty of texture and flavor in this vibrant smoothie bowl.
View Recipe
Make Mom’s oatmeal extra special with these creamy, cinnamon-infused oats simmered with banana and date paste. Feel free to get creative with your “sundae” toppings. Fresh fruits like strawberries, pineapple, blueberries, and raspberries work well. You could also add a few nuts, chia seeds, raisins, or a sprinkle of vegan chocolate chips. Writes a fan, “Delish. … I added some walnut and hemp seed.”
View Recipe
Watch Mom savor every mouthful of this creamy polenta, topped with Tex-Mex flavorings such as beans, avocado, jalapeño, cilantro, and pico de gallo.
View Recipe
Sometimes Moms want donuts for breakfast! And why not, when they’re as healthy as these. An oat flour base combines with orange zest and juice, cocoa powder, and tahini for a richly flavored, citrusy donut the whole family will love. Serve with orange sauce and shaved vegan chocolate. To make these gluten-free, be sure to use certified gluten-free oat flour. “So good! Glaze is a must,” writes one fan.
View Recipe
A tofu-mustard sauce adds scrumptious flavor to this colorful root vegetable hash, featuring potato, sweet potato, beet, parsnip, carrot, and Brussels sprouts.
View Recipe
For potato-loving moms, this rustic Spanish tortilla will be a real treat. Note: This recipe takes a bit over an hour—most of it baking time—so you might want to start Mom off with a cup of tea!
View Recipe
Dr. Sheil Shukla’s vegan take on a popular Indian dessert is healthy enough to eat any time of the day and yummy enough for a special-occasion brunch. Ready in 30 minutes, this easy bake delivers big on flavor and is packed with nutritious ingredients. The aroma of warming spices fills the kitchen while the oats get thick and creamy in the oven. Chia seeds and flaxseeds add extra oomph and thicken it up, while grated carrots, ripe bananas, and dates add the perfect dose of sweetness. Serve with warm plant-based milk, a drizzle of maple syrup, and a pinch of cinnamon. One reviewer says, “The flavor and texture are unique and a great alternative to everyday oatmeal.”
View Recipe
The tried-and-true pairing of chocolate and pear once again knocks it out of the park in this simple quinoa breakfast bowl.
View Recipe
Vegan scrambles usually star tofu or chickpea, but this veggie-licious one stars cauliflower. The cruciferous powerhouse makes a hearty fiber-rich base and eagerly soaks up the turmeric, nutritional yeast, and other seasonings. One fan writes, “I love this, and make it whenever cauliflower is at its best.”
View Recipe
If you’re planning a morning at home with Mom, this fabulous potato bread will steal the show. It takes three hours to make, but as with most breads, a good amount of the time is in the rising. Serve with Creamy Corn Butter, Sweet Potato Butter, avocado and tomato, or other yummy toast toppers. This would also make a great gift. Notes one writer, “OMG. I’ve made it three times. I promise you it’s foolproof.”
View Recipe
Stuffed with creamy hummus, cooling cucumber, and tangy tomato, Mom will love sinking her teeth into these scrumptious whole wheat wraps. Lemon juice adds brightness, and finely chopped scallions lend a hit of sharp flavor that perfectly complements the other ingredients. “Very nice, fresh, and bright,” writes a fan.
View Recipe
Cake for breakfast? Yes, please! Fragrant with orange zest and cinnamon, and made with yuca flour (also known as cassava flour), this moist, single-tier cake is best served with a cup of hot or cold tea.
View Recipe
Oatmeal never tasted so good: Creamy, slightly tart, and with sweet strawberry flavor, this is a great special occasion breakfast.
View Recipe
These light and fluffy vanilla pancakes, topped with a naturally sweetened chocolate sauce and Strawberry-Cherry Ice Cream, will have Mom smiling from ear to ear. If you don’t have the bandwidth for making all three components then serve with chocolate sauce and fresh berries, or skip the sauce and serve with Strawberry-Cherry Ice Cream. Tip: To make these gluten-free, substitute a gluten-free flour mix for the all-purpose flour.
View RecipeFind even more healthy plant-based brunch recipes below!
Can’t decide between sweet or savory? We’ve rounded up the best vegan waffle and pancake recipes to satisfy both sides of your palate.
From perfectly seasoned hashes to frittatas to muffins and more, these are our favorite healthy vegan recipes to make for brunch.
This post was originally published on May 1, 2017, and has been updated.
Lisa Esile is an author, illustrator, blogger, vegetable gardener, and whole-food enthusiast with a special fondness for potatoes. She has a master’s degree in human nutrition and is passionate about showing people how to live happier, healthier lives. She is the author of Reach Your Big Calm and the co-author of Whose Mind Is It Anyway? Find her on Facebook.
see more from this author
Get a taste for healthy, fuss-free meal planning with this free five-day meal plan from Forks Meal Planner!
Get delicious recipes, expert health advice, culinary tips and
special offers from Forks Over Knives and our curated partners.
Comments (9)
I luv the love you all show for good food !
These recipes are beautiful. I would observe many too labor intensive for me the lead cook/mom unless it’s a special occasion and not going to get my hopes that someone in the family will make most of IF any of these for Mother’s Day.
Joy,
Couldn’t agree more. Eating healthy shouldn’t require hours in the kitchen and culinary expertise.
I’m 93 years old. I’m tired of cooking. Would like simple recipies
Kitty, I’m on a low sodium diet as well. I buy no salt added chickpeas at Whole Foods. But if you can’t find any, I assume the aquafaba (chickpea liquid) is being used as an egg replacer. Not sure which recipe you were looking at though, but if it’s for baking, you could try an alternative like a flax egg (1 tablespoon of ground flax seeds + 3 tablespoons of water) allow it to sit/gel or about 5-10 minutes. Hope that helps.
You say to use the liquid from a can of chickpeas but that is so high in sodium! What can I use instead? I am on a low sodium diet.
You can cook the chickpeas without salt. You buy it dry, make sure you soak in water for, at least, 8 hours, change the water and cook in pressure cook (verify the cooking time on internet, I cannot remember). Cook only in water, without any salt.
I usually cook a whole bag of chickpeas, portion and freeze it (I freeze the grains with the water used in the cooking).
Hi Kitty, I had no idea that aquafaba from ‘no salt added’ canned chickpeas was high in sodium? How does one assess the sodium levels in the liquid?
Délicieuse attention à l’égard des personnes qui savent prendre soin par le repos de la santé du corps et de l’esprit, Cordialement, Sabine